fit blog

Freelancing in Tokyo: Make Your Mark

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:21:00 -0500

This has been a tough summer for me and most of my colleagues. Budgets have been slashed, jobs have been cut, things have definitely changed. And yet I still believe Tokyo is a great place to "reinvent" yourself. It may take more work and time because of language and cultural "adjustments." But it is possible to thrive here if you are willing to put the effort into carving out your own unique niche.

What is that "niche"? That's the first question to answer. I have seen friends and acquaintances go from teaching English to opening up their own production companies; from being "salarymen" to starting their own restaurants; from being "office ladies" to creating their own magazines and having them published by a major publisher.

I love seeing these transitions because it proves to me over and over that we are only limited by what we think we are. I came here thinking I was a musician and a songwriter. I didn't see myself as anything else; I then stumbled down a path which found me teaching English, writing for newspapers and magazines, doing voices for anime characters, writing screenplays and directing films. If you had told me when I first came here that I was going to wake up one day and find out that I was a screenwriter or a director, I would have laughed.

But... Tokyo has allowed me to "discover" these facets of myself. And I encourage you to "allow" Tokyo to do the same for you. Embrace your experience here and take advantage of the opportunities presented to help you discover "your path." I am so grateful to say that I am now a screenwriter and a director and an author. Maybe I would have discovered these things elsewhere, but I feel it is a combination of the unique experiences I have had in Tokyo that have allowed me to "make my mark."

So, what is your "niche"? I bet you can discover that while you're here. Let me hear from you... I'd like to know if your "FIT" adventure has opened some surprising doors for you. I know it has for me.

Freelancing in Tokyo: Bootstraps or Heelstraps: Pick Yourself Up

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:39:00 -0500

For those of us roughing it out in Tokyo this summer, we've exchanged stories of how "tough" it is: Jobs being canceled, not enough work coming in, phones not ringing. Yes, it is true; things slow down in August in Japan as everyone flees the heat. But for those of you who braved it and who may be surviving by your wits, I say: Go a step farther.

Many Westerners forget that in Japan "face time" counts. Not only does face time count, so do friendly messages or letters or gifts (o-chūgen) to those people who have helped you -- or may help you.

This is considered a chore or a nuisance or a bother by many; I understand completely, and I cannot say I have been a shining example of following my own advice. But one thing I do is "show up." I do try hard to circulate and I do try hard to stay in touch. If I see something of interest on the Internet that I think may have value for my Japanese colleagues, I forward it to them. I also make sure I thank them for almost every job they give me. In addition, if I am doing a performance (I'm a professional musician), I offer as many of them as I can a free seat. This kind of acknowledgment pays off: when a job comes up, I am in their minds because of the collective efforts I've made to stay in touch with them. Jobs may be scarce... but I'm still getting called.

The point of all this is: Do not recoil into yourself when you hear chopping block sounds. Pick yourself up by the bootstraps or heelstraps (or, depending on your closet, both), and get out there and make yourself known. And what I mean by that is: "Hey, guys, I'm available for work." Or, perhaps more importantly in a time where we must all make our own paths, "Hey, guys, I'm teaching a class on such-and-such. I'm hosting a seminar with so-and-so. I've just opened my own business doing/selling/teaching... and I'm offering discounts to all my friends and associates."

I am writing this post because I was inspired by seeing the short film "Lemonade." In brief, it tells how people who got laid off from their jobs pulled themselves together and went after what they wanted to.

For many of you who are freelancers, perhaps you are just working part-time, or are not interested in opening your own business, or enjoy the downtime between assignments. All of that is good; my point, basically, as it has been over the last few posts, is: Do not wait for opportunity. Go out and create it, whether that be reacquainting yourselves with a client, setting up a website that advertises your business or skills, sending out notes thanking people you've worked with... whatever it takes to create a situation which others find attractive enough to engage you in whatever work that you enjoy doing.

Freelancing in Tokyo: Do It Yourself

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:35:00 -0500

Many of you have escaped Japan for the summer, and I cannot blame you. It's HOT. Although, this summer has held many surprises -- extra typhoons bringing in much needed rain and some powerful gusts of wind. Beautiful sunny days followed by remnants of June's rainy season. Like elsewhere in the world, the weather in Tokyo (and Japan) is unpredictable these days... and so, as most of you are experiencing, is the economy.

Perhaps some of you, at this very moment, are peacefully drifting across a crystal blue pool, nestled in a turquoise/emerald-colored flotation device with a drink holder for your daiquiri, your iPad propped on your stomach, enjoying your summer reading. Tokyo is a distant memory... but soon, you will return. Are the jobs lined up and waiting for you? Or are you going to have to take the reins of your sled and start careening through the twisted maze of Tokyo's nooks and crannies, searching for new opportunities? Whatever your situation, I strongly believe that you are the one who dictates what the path will be.

Which brings me to today's topic: Do It Yourself. It is easy to say this and much harder to do, but do not rely on agents (be they voiceover agents, "teaching" agents), temp employment agencies, classified ads or job sites. Go out and get the type of work you want--by yourself. This basically comes down to networking. I am not a master networker... I wish I could say I was. I never had to do it when I was younger and I am only slowly cluing in to the value of it.

But when I first came to Tokyo, the way I got work was through a loose network of people I met before the Internet was up and running. We helped each other. We recommended each other. I find that is not so often the case now and there are many FITters who jealously guard their contacts. I can understand why, but I still believe (foolishly perhaps?) that there is enough work to go around. It is a matter of you taking it upon yourself to build the contacts and ferret out the job opportunities.

I am amazed at how many foreigners I meet here in Tokyo who want to get on the gravy train and have yet to either get a proper business card (meishi), build a website (lots of free stuff out there, folks, and if you have a Mac, there's iWeb, part of the iLife series, all under 10,000 yen/$100) and/or imagine themselves doing anything other than teaching English or proofreading accounting reports. Then, when they get stuck, they stand like deer in headlights, unable to do anything except... lose a chance to get ahead or expand their worlds.

Which again brings me back to "Do It Yourself." A little shameless promotion here. I wrote a screenplay with my co-writer Blake Pinter (brilliant, brilliant, brilliant man!) called "Do It Yourself." To date it has won five awards and I'd like to believe it's because it's a story about a downtrodden individual who picks herself up by her heel straps (because she doesn't wear boots), reinvents herself and makes a name for herself in the world. Yes... she hits rock bottom, and maybe that's what it takes to say, "Okay, screw this; I'm doing it myself."

I have, since coming to Japan, produced my own album, produced or directed or written five short films, self-published FIT, and, for anyone who has read the book, worked a catalog of jobs, most of which I had very little experience for. But what I did have was a belief in myself, no matter how small, that I could do something... that I had some modicum of talent. It's this belief that has enabled me to survive in Tokyo through thick and thin. So, take a moment, look at your lovely self in the mirror. If you are facing rough times financially, if jobs are scarce, look at yourself and say, "I can do it, and I can do it by myself." You'll figure it out -- I did, and I wrote the book on it!

Freelancing in Tokyo: Reinventing Yourself

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:38:00 -0500

Hello All!

I hope you are doing whatever you can to stay cool in Tokyo's "heat-island" summer.

When I began writing "Freelancing in Tokyo," there were signs that the Japanese economy was "slipping." The bounty of well-paying jobs for native-English speakers in Japan was very slowly becoming a dearth. However, I believed (and still do) that opportunities abound here for freelancers, which is why I decided to finish the book. Even at publication time, the number of foreigners coming to make a go of it in Tokyo was continuing to grow.

That may no longer be the case, according to a July 10, 2010 article in The Japan Times, which says: "The number of foreigners registered with the government at the end of last year showed a decrease for the first time in nearly five decades."

What does that mean to you, the native English speaker who is living here and/or the native English speaker who is thinking of coming here?

This is how I see it: If you are already here and have established a "comfort zone," don't get too comfortable in it. Based on my own experience, rugs can be yanked from under your feet at any given moment. If you are a freelancer, there is no union of any kind to protect you, especially if you work in the entertainment business in Japan. So, do you have other skills to fall back on at a moment's notice? (And yes, that includes "teaching English" -- and I don't mean that sarcastically). If you are not yet here and are still thinking of coming here, you will need to decide what it is that you can bring to the table that is unique, fresh and desirable (and, in some cases, that means you and your personality).

The point: You may have to "reinvent" yourself, sell yourself from a new angle. As a freelancer in Tokyo I have definitely had more jobs than most people do in a lifetime. A quick rundown of them (in no particular order) would be:

English teacher
Editor
Proofreader
Copywriter
Pianist/Accompanist/Singer
Actor (commercials)
Voice Actor
French chef (yes, I was!)
Event planner
Director (film)
Producer (film)
Magazine model (yes, I was!)
Tap-dancing priest (yes, I was!)

Now, some of those "jobs" were one-off events -- but I did them, and I learned from them, and they enabled me to broaden my skills on many levels. Did I ever think I would (or could) teach a class on French cuisine? Not in a lifetime; but I did. Did I ever think I would have to drag out my tap shoes after not using them for 25 years? No, but I did, and I got paid for doing so.

As I stress in my book, each of us has hidden talents. Maybe you took an art class in college; maybe you worked for an attorney drafting contracts; maybe you had to give a speech on-the-fly when a colleague was unable to do so. All of these experiences can be of value in Japan, and I know, because I have drawn on my "hidden talents" so many times that I have come to the conclusion that there is hardly anything I can't do; I mean that.

So: If you've been chugging along doing your nice little rewriting/proofreading gig, and the company suddenly closes its doors, and/or, if you have just arrived to find out that the company you were about to work for is on the verge of bankruptcy, do not panic. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and ask yourself, "What else can I do?" Whatever that is, do it. Try it; don't be afraid. As a colleague told me once, "You are who you say you are."

So, who are you today?

Freelancing in Tokyo: Face Time

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:43:00 -0500

Last night we had an excellent Freelancing in Tokyo networking night at Kimono Wine Bar & Grill. Not only was the food great (as always), it was the first time that everyone had their business cards on them; as such, we were able to connect the Japanese way, via meishi koukan (exchanging business cards).

We were fortunate to have some Japanese participants last night, one who kindly explained that the business card represents kao, or, the face. It is a "paper embodiment" of you and not just a card with your name, company and phone number.

So, if you have not gotten yours yet, now's the time to do so. I was complimented many times on my own meishi last night, and, again, for those who have asked, I used Mojo Print. This is an excellent, affordable printing company that has native English service. They also do a variety of other print jobs, for which I have used them for as well, and their turnaround time is quite fast... so, no more excuses.

What was great about last night is we had people from Europe, the States and Japan. For me, personally, I love to meet people from other parts of the globe; I believe we all have something to offer each other, and for those of us living full time in Tokyo, my hope is that the FIT networking nights will help us expand our little universes and put us in touch with people who may be able to provide each other with unique creative skills, whether that be editing, voice work, producing, web design, translation, event planning and more.

I appreciate all those who came last night and I look forward to seeing you all again. Have a great freelancing adventure today!

Freelancing in Tokyo: Being Dismissed

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:35:00 -0500

I have posted a picture of these "lucky cats" because all of them have their eyes closed and they look like they are waving goodbye. This is not the usual "lucky" cats you see in Japan, but they seem appropriate for this post.

I wrote FIT and created this site to help others who might want to walk down the same or similar path that I did when I first came to Tokyo in 1993. I stumbled and fell many times; I made lots of mistakes. I learned harsh lessons--and I also learned how to be my own little "machine," creating a world for myself where there were a lot of odds against me. Despite what I have learned and what I know and what I have attempted to share with FIT followers, I, too, continue to learn--and to be surprised and dismayed at some of the things that continue to happen along this FIT adventure.

Specifically: After playing piano at a well-known hotel here in Tokyo for almost a year, the management, based on a "customer complaint," suddenly decided that I was "too loud" and my arrangements were "no good." As a result, five scheduled dates of work were canceled. I disagree with why decided to let me go; I have played at the same volume and have played the same repertoire since they hired me. However, they are entitled to their opinion; what bothers me is how I was unceremoniously dismissed, which seems to be in keeping with my FIT experience.

The management would never under any circumstances communicate with me--all communication had to go through my agent. Okay, that's fine, but their lack of communication also extended to not acknowledging my existence. Meaning: despite the fact that I made every effort to greet them in a friendly manner each time I came to work, I was ignored. I thought it was a little severe, but I let it go.

In keeping with this lack of direct communication, I was somehow supposed to have read their minds and made adjustments accordingly, through some kind of osmosis. All they had to do, if something was not right for them, was to have communicated that information to me, or to the agent.

When I asked the agent "If they thought the piano was too loud, why didn't they say so? I could have easily adjusted the volume," her response was: "It's their policy not to communicate directly with the entertainers." Okay. But instead of asking an employee that had worked for them for a year to make some kind of an adjustment, they instead called her to tell her that because one customer "complained," that therefore there was no other possible solution except to let me go?

I have worked for the agent in question for 17 years. She speaks very good English and she has always paid me in a timely manner. I knew from the moment she said "a customer complained" that it was the end of the job. Despite the fact that on the same evening two customers came up and thanked me (not to mention bowing to me--quite rare these days in Japan) for the "beautiful music"--one customer's "complaint" ended the job. I told the agent that it wouldn't make any difference what I said to her and that there was no point in even trying to ask questions or make suggestions, because the management had already made its decision. To which she said nothing. She did apologize for the situation and she did offer to pay me 50% for the canceled dates--but in the same breath she asked me to play one more night (because it would inconvenience her to have to find someone so quickly). I said: "If they didn't like my piano playing on Thursday night, why would they like it on Sunday night? I think not."

The point of me telling you this story is not to whine about my personal drama, it's to tell you that as a foreigner working in Japan, you may have little recourse when a job is taken away from you. There are no unions that protect talent in Japan. It is a rare agent that will speak up and ask for money for overtime or try to negotiate anything extra for you or "smooth things out" with a client. There are those agents, and I applaud them, and they have helped me in the past--but for those of you who may find yourself in a similar situation, do not expect it--or anything at all in the way of help, understanding or sympathy. It is a sad reality, but it is what I have seen over and over.

Bottom line: You can try your hardest here, but you may never ever know what the reasons are for your being "let go." You can get upset, you can demand answers, you can try to go above other people's heads, but I would say that none of these things are going to change much of anything. The only thing that might is if you spoke fluent Japanese and had a Japanese lawyer that believed in you and felt you were wronged in some way. That might help. Otherwise, keep moving on.

Thank you for listening. FIT is an adventure and there can be some great experiences along the way, but there's always a doozy mixed in to keep things "balanced."

I intend to keep "FITting"--and I hope to meet you along the way. If you do see me, please say hello. FITters can help each other, and that's why I created this site, to help build a community for those of us who are out there surviving by our wits.

Freelancing in Tokyo: Getting what's rightfully yours

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:00:00 -0500

In the 17 years I have lived in Japan, this is the first time I have seen an article about the poor handling of foreign talent by Tokyo talent agencies. Although I wrote about things of this nature in my book, I do not (yet) have the wide readership of The Japan Times, which ran the article, or, more importantly, Facebook, which is where a FB friend posted the article.

It takes guts and courage for a "foreign talent" to step forward and let the world know that they are being taken advantage of by "talent agencies" here in Tokyo. They know that if they say anything negative about the agencies that they risk not being paid what is owed them, and that they risk losing future jobs, not only from the agency in question, but other agencies that handle foreign talent. The Japanese do not like urusai (noisy) people. They do not like anyone to rock the boat, make a stink, speak up, complain or demand. And yet, foreign talent sometimes has to do all of the above in order to get paid.

I never worked for the agency in question (IMO), specifically because of the stories I heard through the years. I quote from the article:

"In recent interviews with The Japan Times, 10 people registered with IMO said those who do not ask the agency for money multiple times have no chance of getting paid, and there are many foreigners who have gone home unpaid."

Now, why is that? Why should that be the case? It shouldn't. I was told years ago that I was urusai because I asked when I was going to be paid. I'm sorry; what am I not understanding? I do a job for you based on the agreement that we make at the start. When you don't follow through on your end, I start by politely asking, "When will you pay me for this job?" When you ignore my questions, phone calls or faxes, I have trouble understanding what the problem is.

I do not mean to use this blog as a personal soapbox to complain about issues in Japan, but when it comes to paying foreign talent, unfortunately, depending on the agency, it can become a real issue.

On the other hand: I have worked for several agencies here for at least 15 years; they have all paid exactly when they said they were going to and we have never had any problems or issues. That is how it is supposed to be. What happens is that some of these agencies will negotiate the lowest amount of money they can for salaries for foreign talent, and they will take a huge cut of it (I have heard as high as 40%) to cover their operating costs. This is how they stay in business; paying the talent is the last thing on their list.

In my book I list agencies that I have worked with and who have paid me fairly and on time. I also list other agencies which hire foreign talent and for which I make no comment as I have not worked for them.

But I will say this: Unless foreign talent steps forward and becomes urusai about agencies that take advantage of them here in Tokyo, this vicious cycle will continue. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

In the meantime, go out and get yours!

Freelancing in Tokyo: Going for it!

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:56:00 -0500

"Go for it!"

That tired old phrase still has some kick, because that's what I've been doing and it's the reason I've not been able to get back to my blog as frequently as I'd like.

What I've discovered (and hopefully what you've discovered too) is that putting yourself out there, staying in touch, making your presence known... this is one way to stay on top of a down economy.

There is no doubt the first part of this year was deadly for many of us, yours truly included. But after about four months of dreariness and depression, I thought: "You know what? I don't like this!" And I forced myself to get out of my comfy cubby hole and back on the street. I've been "showing up," "getting involved," "staying in touch" -- you know all the phrases... and this is what has been turning my situation around financially. It seems so easy, doesn't it? And yet, it requires a lot of effort -- conscious effort -- to keep the ball rolling.

I cannot say this advice is peculiar to Tokyo, but what I can say is: it works. And what I've noticed about my fellow FIT friends is that they start to "get comfortable," meaning: they don't get out unless they have to. In the Freelancing in Tokyo book, I strongly recommend against this, no matter how tempting it may be. Make sure part of your day includes meeting and greeting and connecting and networking. Which leads me up to tonight:

We are having our monthly networking night at the Kimono Wine Bar. It's a fun, easy, inexpensive way to connect and expand your network, plus there are several prizes, so, why not? If you have interest, please RSVP right away to Lauren Shannon.

If you aren't able to make it, make sure you take part of your day and connect, reconnect or establish a new contact. This is how I've turned nothing into something and how I continue to get freelance work that pays well and allows me to focus on my creative dreams, which right now happen to be making films! (More on that next time.)

Hoping to see you tonight...

Freelancing in Tokyo: When it rains it pours

Sun, 30 May 2010 20:55:00 -0500

Hello all!

Although it may seem that I have vanished from the face of the earth, I have been putting all my FIT principles into action and work has been coming in and opportunities have been falling out of the sky. In addition to an unusual rush of voice work, I am now also in the process of preparing to make two films. Although the films are self-produced, the point is that showing up at networking events, staying in touch, working my meishi and making sure I stay in contact with people on my list has enabled me to pursue my dream: keep working freelance and be able to fund my own creative projects.

It is all doable, but it takes a lot of effort and commitment. So, I am sending out good wishes to all of you who are attempting to follow similar paths, and I also encourage you to join us on June 17 for another networking night at the Kimono Wine Bar. Last month we had an excellent crowd and I met some great people and expanded my network. This is a simple, fun and inexpensive way for you to do the same.

More on the film projects soon. Have a great day!

Reconnecting

Mon, 03 May 2010 20:39:00 -0500

Dear All,

While it may seem that I have fallen off the face of the earth, I am actually still among the living. Due to family matters and computer glitches I was unable to communicate with our magical cyberspace community, but I am back on track and happy to be here.

It is currently "Golden Week" in Japan; for those who are newbies, that means a string of holidays that are so close together that the Japanese end up taking about six days off in a row. So, as I need to get some of my "golden" time in as well, this is just to let you know that are some great events coming up soon, including a networking night at the new Kimono Wine Bar (see "News" on the FIT site) on May 20. Reservations are required; please join us!

So, enjoy the rest of your Golden Week, and from May 6 it's back on track and ready for more freelancing adventures!

Freelancing in Tokyo: Networking Opportunities!

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:13:00 -0500

Hello All!

I hope you are embracing spring in Tokyo... it's really taken a while for the sun to peek out from behind the clouds, but soon enough it will be here in "full swing" (one of the phrases I constantly encountered during my many FIT proofreading jobs), so, enjoy it while you can.

To help sweeten the experience, we are having the first of what we hope will be monthly networking meetings at the brand new Kimono Wine and Grill in Minami Aoyama. Anyone who joined us at FIT's launch party last November will be familiar with the excellent food and wine that is served up courtesy of Lauren Shannon and her creative partners at To the Moon and Back. Please check the current FIT news for more details.

Through the networking events that FIT has sponsored, I have met filmmakers, writers, entrepreneurs, and folks who are in Tokyo for the purpose of deciding whether they want to make the big move here. The point: Although the foreign community in Tokyo is growing, it is still small enough to make multiple connections across many platforms and enhance your freelancing opportunities. I encourage you to join us and help expand our FIT community. The reason I wrote Freelancing in Tokyo is to help people see that there are options and opportunities aplenty in Tokyo to apply your skills, whatever they may be. Yes, it is true, many of them are associated with language: teaching, editing, writing, proofreading, narrating, etc. But, as has been pointed out by other fellow freelancers who came here long before I did: Use these type of English-language related jobs as launching pads for your higher goals, whatever they may be. It is easy to lose track of that when someone is waving the offer of a steady teaching gig in front of your nose; however, if you play your cards wisely, you can create your own "freelancing universe" in Tokyo and do the jobs that appeal to you.

Hope to see you on May 20th!

Gearing Up for Freelancing in Tokyo

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:06:00 -0500

April 1 is almost upon us and what that means in Japan is: good weather, lighter clothing, companies opening, employees needed. That is a very brief description of how each April has unfolded for me for the last 17 years in Tokyo. In fact for the months of January and February I was again hit by that feeling of: all the jobs have dried up and it's time to pack it all in.

Then, just as the buds push up through the ground when the spring warmth finally arrives (and spring is really struggling to break through the cold front that has assaulted our fair islands for the last four months), job offers start coming in. Now, they aren't pouring in like they used to, but they are still coming in. And most of them are coming in from people that I had worked for years ago but had only recently "re-met" at a social gathering in January. They seemed quite happy to see me and gave me (again) their business cards. To my surprise, they have been calling me for voice work and editing jobs ever since.

Other work has been coming in in about the same way. People are starting to come out of their self-imposed hibernation and they're picking up the phone again and getting involved. The point: Now is the time to strike. Make sure you have your meishi (business card) with your photo on it, your resume (translated) and dive into the list of "Employment Opportunities" available here at FIT under "Helpful Websites." Also: Make sure everyone you know is aware that you are seeking employment. These three simple steps are what I have done and are what have enabled me to maintain my freelancing lifestyle, which affords me to pursue other creative adventures.

If things go well, FIT will be having more network parties in the near future, so, if I haven't met you yet, I hope to do so soon. Have your business card (with a lovely picture of your lovely face!) ready and waiting.

Gambatte! (Go for it!)

Get Your FIT On!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:23:00 -0600

FIT closed out February 2010 with a wonderful evening at Good Day Books in Ebisu, where yours truly gave a BookNotes talk about FIT to a very appreciative crowd. It was great to meet new people and share my experiences with them. One of the things I covered that night was the power of the meishi, or business card. I encouraged everyone to get a picture on theirs, if they didn't have one already. From the seven brave souls that exchanged cards with me at the end of the evening, no one had their picture on their cards yet. Well, the year's still young and there's plenty of time to get yours printed before April 1, which is the beginning of the fiscal year in Japan and also the time when the weather warms up, cherry trees bloom and people are in the mood for life, love, work and movement. So, get your new meishi and walk into your next networking event armed and ready to connect.

Some people asked me about how to get their personalized meishi. I suggest using MojoPrint out of Osaka. They were fast and professional and spoke English. If any of you are followers of the "Getting Things Done" series, you'll go straight from this blog to the Mojo Print site and get things going.

More exciting events coming soon. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Write-ups are welcome!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:04:00 -0600

It's always nice for a Westerner to be acknowledged in Tokyo, especially when it's by one of the top English-language infozines in town. Metropolis magazine was kind enough to do a mini-write-up about my BooksNote event at Good Day Books in Ebisu this coming Sunday night. And, perhaps even nicer, was having peers stop me on the street, with the magazine in their hand, look up and say, "Hey! I just saw you in the magazine!"

All of that's fun, yes, but it wouldn't matter if it wasn't truly a FIT experience. I boldly approached Metropolis magazine almost eight years ago with a humorous article about eating my way through Tokyo's major department stores. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was convinced the story was worthwhile; to my happy surprise, the editor agreed and the story was printed. This led to me eventually being hired as a part-time proofreader and then eventually to other articles, including a feature, and now advertorials. Even after all these years, Metropolis continues to have its finger on the Tokyo's rapid pulse, and I am really proud to be featured in it and to be part of it, even in a small way.

For anyone who's in town on Sunday night, if you'd like to purchase a copy of FIT (which is the price of admission) and find out how I did it, please come to Good Day Books. I look forward to seeing you!

Being prepared

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:00:00 -0600

If you have already read FIT, you know that voiceover jobs (or "narrator" jobs, as they're known in Japan) can pop up suddenly -- and you need to be prepared.

I have been given scripts for things ranging from processing pork meat to chemical research. I am not an expert in these fields (nor do I want to be); however, one thing I make sure I do (and you're ahead of the game if you've read FIT) is to come to the recording session prepared. Meaning: I know how to pronounce the technical words in the script.

There are a number of online sites to help you do that. Here are two that I've found helpful:

For daily English vocabulary: Merriam Webster.

For technical words: howjsay.

Both sites include online pronunciations so you can hear how to say any of those pesky, troublesome words. Do not assume there will be a producer at the session who will say the words for you; there might be, but don't chance it. Be prepared before you show up at the studio, and you will be the one they call next time.

(I chose the picture of my goldfish today because "clarity" is the key word for your recording session -- and they're beautiful!)

Create Your World

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:44:00 -0600

The month of February in Tokyo is notoriously slow for freelancers. It seems that everyone starts has gone into hibernation and your phone will literally stop ringing. I admit, it can be tough, and it always takes me by surprise.

But one must soldier on if one wants to survive as a freelancer. So, today's tips: Make sure your meishi (business card) is up-to-date and that you actually have them on you (how many times have I said, "Oh, sorry; I ran out of them" -- only to be greeted by disapproving stares). Make sure your resume is up-to-date and reflects any new or exciting accomplishments (and yes, I'm a bad boy, because my online resume is not current... but it will be by the end of the month... I know; no excuses!).

And perhaps most importantly: Create events for yourself. Facebook and Meet-up social networking sites allow you to create whatever workshop or class event that you think you can teach or bring your expertise to. To that end, I have created Screenwriters in Tokyo, a casual group that meets once a month or so, where members can come together and discuss their current projects, get them read and get feedback (essential!). I also have created Tokyo Songwriting Workshops, meeting this coming Saturday, for anyone interested in learning how to write a commercial song.

Are these big money makers? Maybe not initially. But by putting these projects in motion, my network will eventually expand and, hopefully, lead me to exciting opportunities that are fulfilling both creatively and financially.

Raising Awareness

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:39:00 -0600

I would like to thank all who came on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 and who donated to help the Haitian earthquake victims. We were able to raise nearly ¥170,000 (about US$1900) to give to Japan Red Cross.

I know that most of us are far removed from the events that occurred in Haiti, but it is my belief that those who have need to share with those who do not have. I am grateful so many Tokyoites made an effort to participate and help. Many thanks also to all the talent who joined us: Greg Irwin, Helen Morrison, Andrew Martinez, Jonathan Alan, Bodhi Kenyon, Joshua Brown, Rin & Kaneko, Stacy Powell, and others who donated time and talents. Also, thank you to Yoshiko-san, who allowed us to use Ben's Cafe as our "concert hall."

Thank you again, everyone!

Dreams Can Come True

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:59:00 -0600

When I first came to Tokyo 16 years ago the thought that I could be a journalist was the farthest thing from my mind. I couldn't conceive of it. But eventually, and through a freelance opportunity, journalistic work came my way. I am not sure why, but it never occurred to me that I could be a member of that august organization, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, better known as FCCJ.

Through my freelance contacts, I discovered that I had written enough assignments to most likely qualify as an associate member. As soon as I found that out, I high-tailed it to the Ginza FCCJ headquarters, filled out my application and hoped for the best. When I was accepted, it was a proud day.

Freelancing in Tokyo has opened many wonderful doors for me... and this has been just one more.

Face Time

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:59:00 -0600

One of the most important things in your FIT adventure is "face time." It's easy to underestimate this essential part of working in Japan, but it's a mistake to do so. It's true we live in a whirlwind of texting, email, ichat, etc., but showing up and making clear to a client how important they are and how much you'd like to work for them is common sense anywhere... even more so in Japan. In my experience, it's what has made the positive difference in my freelancing work flow in Tokyo.

Strange Bedfellows in Tokyo

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:36:00 -0600

One of the great things about living in Tokyo is that it makes strange bedfellows of all Westerners -- and some Japanese. It seems unlikely that had I stayed in Los Angeles that I would have been one of two people being interviewed at a media event... the other person being Yukie Kito, one of the producers of the critically acclaimed filmTokyo Sonata. But that is one of the joys of living here. You can start off an English teacher, and end up rubbing shoulders with elite entertainment professionals. Just another day as a freelancer in Tokyo!